National Sports

National League Game Summary - Atlanta at Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Clayton Kershaw went the distance to win his 10th consecutive decision and give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 2-1 decision over Atlanta to complete a three-game sweep of the Braves.

Kershaw came extremely close to notching his third shutout of the season, but allowed a run in the ninth inning when Justin Upton barely beat out an infield hit to score his brother, B.J. Upton. Evan Gattis grounded into a force play to end the game.

"Clayton got us where we needed to go - a complete game," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "It was a good game for us. That was his game, he's our best guy."

Kershaw (13-2), who scattered nine hits and had nine strikeouts without walking a batter, hasn't lost since May 28 against Cincinnati. The lefty, who tied his career-long winning streak, lowered his ERA to 1.71 for the season.

"Whenever you're winning you don't want to change the lineup," Kershaw said. "We're swinging the bats well. I tried to be 100 percent through the ninth inning. I felt pretty normal in the ninth tonight."

Yasiel Puig homered in the third inning and scored on Adrian Gonzalez's double in the first, giving the Dodgers their season-high sixth straight win. They lead the NL West by 3 1/2 games over San Francisco.

Julio Teheran (10-7) went the distance on a five-hitter for the Braves. Teheran also had nine strikeouts.

"They were both outstanding pitchers tonight," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "They (Dodgers) were able to turn three double plays. Julio had a solid outing. Clayton scatters nine hits, but he doesn't get rattled. Tip your cap to him. I'm proud of the way we played in the series, even though we lost three games."

The Dodgers earned their first sweep of three or more games over the Braves since a four-game whitewash July 26-29, 1990 at Dodger Stadium. It also marked LA's sixth series sweep of the season.

Puig walked with one out in the first and scored when Gonzalez doubled to the gap in right-center. Puig may have been out at the plate, but the relay throw home was off the mark a bit and escaped Gattis.

Puig then homered to left-center field on a 1-2 pitch with one out in the third.

Kershaw, who threw his second straight complete game and fifth this season, gave up consecutive singles to start the fifth inning. Andrelton Simmons grounded into a double play and Philip Gosselin struck out looking to end the inning.

The Braves sent the minimum number of hitters to the plate in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings before rallying in the ninth. B.J. Upton singled to left and Tommy La Stella singled to right, both with one out. Freddie Freeman struck out fishing for a pitch at the knees on a 3-2 count. Justin Upton then hit a bouncer to third base, and the throw to first appeared on time, but just as Upton hit the base.

Video replay upheld the call before Gattis sent his grounder for a force out at second to end the contest.

Game Notes

First base umpire Jerry Layne removed himself in the third inning due to an injured calf. He was replaced at first by Mike Estabrook, who began at second base ... The Dodgers did not make any trades prior to Thursday's non-waiver deadline, while the Braves acquired utilityman Emilio Bonifacio and pitcher James Russell from the Chicago Cubs for catching prospect Victor Caratini.